West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) has issued a call for submissions for their juried exhibits “Deck the Halls” as well as the exhibit to be displayed during the 2024 eclipse celebration in West Plains. WPCA will host “Deck the Halls” from November 18 through December 16, 2023; and the eclipse exhibit March 30 through May 4, 2024, in the Gallery at the Center, West Plains Civic Center. Both exhibits are open to 2D and 3D artists.
“Deck the Halls” is the opportunity for you to showcase what your holiday celebration means to you. Fall and winter holidays are wonderful times for decorating and creating memories. This is a call for artists to share their memories through their work. Deadline for entries is October 15, 2023.
The eclipse exhibit will feature “all things above” – artwork created during or representing an eclipse, night skies, or other skyward representations to help celebrate during the Party in the Path West Plains Eclipse Celebration April 5-8, 2024. Deadline for entries is March 1, 2024.
Area artists and makers are encouraged to email photos of up to five (5) proposed works to info@westplainsart.org by the deadlines to be considered.
Guidelines:
- 2-D and 3-D pieces accepted
- 16”x20” maximum size of 2-D works, unless waiver granted
- All media accepted – paintings, photographs, drawings, printmaking, pottery, gourd art, etc.
- Subject matter to fit the theme.
- 2-D Pieces must be framed and/or ready to hang
The exhibits are co-sponsored by the West Plains Civic Center and West Plains Council on the Arts, with partial funding provided by Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) will host an exhibition titled “King of the Ozarks” by Mountain Grove photographer Joyce McMurtrey in the Gallery at the Center, West Plains Civic Center from September 1 through October 20, 2023. The Gallery, on the mezzanine, is open to the public during regular Civic Center hours.
Like her photographs, Joyce McMurtrey has deep roots in the Missouri Ozarks. A native of Columbia, MO, Joyce has spent the past four decades in Wright County. Together with her husband, Joyce farmed 75 acres of grapes near Mountain Grove. After the birth of her daughter in 1986, Joyce bought a camera. What began as an attempt to capture her family’s life on the farm grew into a passion that can be seen in her powerful portraits of the people and places she calls home.
“King of the Ozarks” began from Joyce’s curiosity to discover more details about an almost mythical person, H. King Davis, and a wish to meet her neighbors. Over four years, the project evolved into a collection of portraits and profiles from interviews Joyce conducted with this multi-generational African American family who’ve farmed in southern Missouri since the Homestead Act.
“Joyce McMurtrey’s work is not about history. She is a keen observer of people and the places where they lived as neighbors and family. In order to share family stories, you must first be a part of one. Joyce’s work, ‘King of the Ozarks: Family Stories’ takes you along the roads where legacies are created and asks us to join in the journey,” says Kathleen Morrissey, President of WPCA.
WPCA will host the Opening Reception for the Ozarks Studies Symposium on Thursday, September 21, 2023, from 5:30-7:00 p.m., in the Gallery at the Center. The “King of the Ozarks” exhibit will be featured. All are invited to attend, meet the artist, and discuss her work. The exhibit is co-sponsored by the West Plains Civic Center and West Plains Council on the Arts, with partial funding provided by Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
Photo courtesy of Joyce McMurtrey

West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) has issued a call for submissions for their juried exhibits “Deck the Halls” as well as the exhibit to be displayed during the 2024 eclipse celebration in West Plains. WPCA will host “Deck the Halls” from November 18 through December 16, 2023; and the eclipse exhibit March 30 through May 4, 2024, in the Gallery at the Center, West Plains Civic Center. Both exhibits are open to 2D and 3D artists.
“Deck the Halls” is the opportunity for you to showcase what your holiday celebration means to you. Fall and winter holidays are wonderful times for decorating and creating memories. This is a call for artists to share their memories through their work. Deadline for entries is October 15, 2023.
The eclipse exhibit will feature “all things above” – artwork created during or representing an eclipse, night skies, or other skyward representations to help celebrate during the Party in the Path West Plains Eclipse Celebration April 5-8, 2024. Deadline for entries is March 1, 2024.
Area artists and makers are encouraged to email photos of up to five (5) proposed works to info@westplainsart.org by the deadlines to be considered.
Guidelines:
- 2-D and 3-D pieces accepted
- 16”x20” maximum size of 2-D works, unless waiver granted
- All media accepted – paintings, photographs, drawings, printmaking, pottery, gourd art, etc.
- Subject matter to fit the theme.
- 2-D Pieces must be framed and/or ready to hang
The exhibits are co-sponsored by the West Plains Civic Center and West Plains Council on the Arts, with partial funding provided by Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
From organizers:
The jury submission deadline for our 48th Annual Fall Art Show is fast approaching, Monday, October 9, 11:45 p.m.
This year we are hoping for a great turnout from artists. We want to fill the gallery for this annual exhibition! Competition Divisions this year will include Youth, Adult-Novice and Adult-Advanced, and all 2D and 3D categories, including: paintings, drawings, mixed media, sculpture, which means there is something for everyone!
We’ve made a few recent changes to our art show entry process which will be different than ones used in recent competitions. To read all about it (and all about the upcoming show—including entry guidelines, submission process, show dates, and more) follow this link:
Guideline Flyer below which includes all the relevant dates, submission instructions, and competition guidelines you’ll need to know to enter the competition, as well as a entry form for the competition.
West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) will host an exhibition titled “King of the Ozarks” by Mountain Grove photographer Joyce McMurtrey in the Gallery at the Center, West Plains Civic Center from September 1 through October 20, 2023. The Gallery, on the mezzanine, is open to the public during regular Civic Center hours.
Like her photographs, Joyce McMurtrey has deep roots in the Missouri Ozarks. A native of Columbia, MO, Joyce has spent the past four decades in Wright County. Together with her husband, Joyce farmed 75 acres of grapes near Mountain Grove. After the birth of her daughter in 1986, Joyce bought a camera. What began as an attempt to capture her family’s life on the farm grew into a passion that can be seen in her powerful portraits of the people and places she calls home.
“King of the Ozarks” began from Joyce’s curiosity to discover more details about an almost mythical person, H. King Davis, and a wish to meet her neighbors. Over four years, the project evolved into a collection of portraits and profiles from interviews Joyce conducted with this multi-generational African American family who’ve farmed in southern Missouri since the Homestead Act.
“Joyce McMurtrey’s work is not about history. She is a keen observer of people and the places where they lived as neighbors and family. In order to share family stories, you must first be a part of one. Joyce’s work, ‘King of the Ozarks: Family Stories’ takes you along the roads where legacies are created and asks us to join in the journey,” says Kathleen Morrissey, President of WPCA.
WPCA will host the Opening Reception for the Ozarks Studies Symposium on Thursday, September 21, 2023, from 5:30-7:00 p.m., in the Gallery at the Center. The “King of the Ozarks” exhibit will be featured. All are invited to attend, meet the artist, and discuss her work. The exhibit is co-sponsored by the West Plains Civic Center and West Plains Council on the Arts, with partial funding provided by Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
Photo courtesy of Joyce McMurtrey

Photo by Carr Ward.


Local artist Ann Kulpa’s artwork will be featured on OzSBI’s first floor from the beginning of October through the end of December 2023. The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) have partnered to bring quarterly art displays to the incubator. Visitors may view the display at the incubator during OzSBI’s business hours, anytime between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale describes the works, “Ann Kulpa gives the viewer multiple layers in her collages. It’s worth your time to pause and explore the various media, textural components, and use of color to create nonrepresentational art.”
Kulpa is a self-taught creative who has been working on her art since she was a child. She has lived in Cabool for 20 years with her husband. Ann lived in Colorado for many years before moving to the Ozarks. In Colorado, Ann competed in juried art shows earning numerous awards and accepting commission work as a portrait artist and mural painter. While living in Cabool she discovered the creative process of Digital Art Painting. She became very involved in digital work for years while continuing her work in Photography, Pencil, and Pen & Ink drawings on the side. Using these mediums, she has won awards in juried art shows in this area.
Because of her interest in the process of creating intuitively, in 2022 Ann returned to the form of abstract art that she loved to create as a child. In the last two years she has enrolled in several educational courses which she is using as a springboard in creating her multi-media, multi-layered, intuitive artwork. As she develops this art form, she hopes to introduce portraiture into her work. “I am enjoying this challenging process which is much like working a creative puzzle. The intuitive nature of creating in this way means I am always surprised throughout the process,” says Kulpa.
A Meet-the-Artist event will be held on Thursday, October 19, 2-4 p.m. in OzSBI’s lobby at 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The public is invited to attend to meet Kulpa and view and discuss the pieces on display.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Madison Sutterfield madisonsutterfield@ozsbi.com at OzSBI or WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale at jhale2129@gmail.com.
The West Plains Photography Club currently has 34 members and meetings are at 6:30 p.m. the second Monday of each month in the Missouri State University-West Plains Creative Discovery Center, 411 West Main Street, Suite 1. Everyone regardless of age or ability is invited to join the club which has no membership dues.
The purpose of the club is to share and support everyone’s passion for photography arts whether they are a beginner or have been engaged in photography for many years. Present members include some who do not even own a camera to professionals who make a living by selling their art. For more information on the club feel free to call Bob Cunningham at 417-257-8206 or Dennis Crider at 417-274-7101.
West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) has issued a call for submissions for their juried exhibits “Deck the Halls” as well as the exhibit to be displayed during the 2024 eclipse celebration in West Plains. WPCA will host “Deck the Halls” from November 18 through December 16, 2023; and the eclipse exhibit March 30 through May 4, 2024, in the Gallery at the Center, West Plains Civic Center. Both exhibits are open to 2D and 3D artists.
“Deck the Halls” is the opportunity for you to showcase what your holiday celebration means to you. Fall and winter holidays are wonderful times for decorating and creating memories. This is a call for artists to share their memories through their work. Deadline for entries is October 15, 2023.
The eclipse exhibit will feature “all things above” – artwork created during or representing an eclipse, night skies, or other skyward representations to help celebrate during the Party in the Path West Plains Eclipse Celebration April 5-8, 2024. Deadline for entries is March 1, 2024.
Area artists and makers are encouraged to email photos of up to five (5) proposed works to info@westplainsart.org by the deadlines to be considered.
Guidelines:
- 2-D and 3-D pieces accepted
- 16”x20” maximum size of 2-D works, unless waiver granted
- All media accepted – paintings, photographs, drawings, printmaking, pottery, gourd art, etc.
- Subject matter to fit the theme.
- 2-D Pieces must be framed and/or ready to hang
The exhibits are co-sponsored by the West Plains Civic Center and West Plains Council on the Arts, with partial funding provided by Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) will host an exhibition titled “King of the Ozarks” by Mountain Grove photographer Joyce McMurtrey in the Gallery at the Center, West Plains Civic Center from September 1 through October 20, 2023. The Gallery, on the mezzanine, is open to the public during regular Civic Center hours.
Like her photographs, Joyce McMurtrey has deep roots in the Missouri Ozarks. A native of Columbia, MO, Joyce has spent the past four decades in Wright County. Together with her husband, Joyce farmed 75 acres of grapes near Mountain Grove. After the birth of her daughter in 1986, Joyce bought a camera. What began as an attempt to capture her family’s life on the farm grew into a passion that can be seen in her powerful portraits of the people and places she calls home.
“King of the Ozarks” began from Joyce’s curiosity to discover more details about an almost mythical person, H. King Davis, and a wish to meet her neighbors. Over four years, the project evolved into a collection of portraits and profiles from interviews Joyce conducted with this multi-generational African American family who’ve farmed in southern Missouri since the Homestead Act.
“Joyce McMurtrey’s work is not about history. She is a keen observer of people and the places where they lived as neighbors and family. In order to share family stories, you must first be a part of one. Joyce’s work, ‘King of the Ozarks: Family Stories’ takes you along the roads where legacies are created and asks us to join in the journey,” says Kathleen Morrissey, President of WPCA.
WPCA will host the Opening Reception for the Ozarks Studies Symposium on Thursday, September 21, 2023, from 5:30-7:00 p.m., in the Gallery at the Center. The “King of the Ozarks” exhibit will be featured. All are invited to attend, meet the artist, and discuss her work. The exhibit is co-sponsored by the West Plains Civic Center and West Plains Council on the Arts, with partial funding provided by Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
Photo courtesy of Joyce McMurtrey


Local artist Ann Kulpa’s artwork will be featured on OzSBI’s first floor from the beginning of October through the end of December 2023. The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) have partnered to bring quarterly art displays to the incubator. Visitors may view the display at the incubator during OzSBI’s business hours, anytime between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale describes the works, “Ann Kulpa gives the viewer multiple layers in her collages. It’s worth your time to pause and explore the various media, textural components, and use of color to create nonrepresentational art.”
Kulpa is a self-taught creative who has been working on her art since she was a child. She has lived in Cabool for 20 years with her husband. Ann lived in Colorado for many years before moving to the Ozarks. In Colorado, Ann competed in juried art shows earning numerous awards and accepting commission work as a portrait artist and mural painter. While living in Cabool she discovered the creative process of Digital Art Painting. She became very involved in digital work for years while continuing her work in Photography, Pencil, and Pen & Ink drawings on the side. Using these mediums, she has won awards in juried art shows in this area.
Because of her interest in the process of creating intuitively, in 2022 Ann returned to the form of abstract art that she loved to create as a child. In the last two years she has enrolled in several educational courses which she is using as a springboard in creating her multi-media, multi-layered, intuitive artwork. As she develops this art form, she hopes to introduce portraiture into her work. “I am enjoying this challenging process which is much like working a creative puzzle. The intuitive nature of creating in this way means I am always surprised throughout the process,” says Kulpa.
A Meet-the-Artist event will be held on Thursday, October 19, 2-4 p.m. in OzSBI’s lobby at 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The public is invited to attend to meet Kulpa and view and discuss the pieces on display.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Madison Sutterfield madisonsutterfield@ozsbi.com at OzSBI or WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale at jhale2129@gmail.com.

The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Artwork from local artist Garrett Melby will be featured October 2 through the end of December 2023, featuring some pieces from his “Tone Poets” collection. Visitors may view the display at the library during open hours, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.
WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale says, “With bold color and strong contrast Garrett creates for the viewer exciting interpretation of his subjects.”
Melby graduated from Willow Springs, Mo in 1998 and had success in school in art related events. His art was displayed in Willow Springs downtown and in the school art show. He graduated from Collins College in Phoenix, AZ with a degree in animation. While in Arizona, his art and animation were displayed in downtown Phoenix art galleries, first Friday’s art walk, as well as in Tempe and Mesa Arizona.
Currently Melby’s artwork is on display at Wages Brewing Company in West Plains, MO and Springfield Brewing Company’s Cellar music venue. Melby paints live with many area and national bands and musicians, including the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, The Steeldrivers, Haha Tonka, the HillBenders and many more. Melby currently is the Coordinator for Honest Imaginations an art-based program for special needs individuals in West Plains, Missouri.
Melby has had art shows and benefit auctions at Wages Brewery West Plains, The Yellow House Community art program West Plains, The Queen city Shout Springfield, Q enoteca wine bar Springfield Mo, OZBI, and Springfield Brewing Company’s Cellar. At these art auctions He has helped raise money for many local charities close to his heart such as ORC\West Plains Regional Animal Shelter, The Bridges Program of West Plains Schools, Rescue and Defend, the West Plains Optimist Club, Queen City Shout Poverty Relief, CASA, Christos House and Play it Forward to name a few.
“My mission statement is simply: You can’t move forward if you don’t give back. I paint live with bands and do a lot of cool things on a canvas, but the real art is finding a way to help someone with your art and that’s what I’m striving to do.”
WPPL Director Greg Carter shares, ‘Here at the library, our vision is that we are a space where all come to learn, create, discover, and connect. There is no better way to accomplish that vision than displaying local pieces of art for the community to peruse and appreciate. We are always proud to partner with the Council on the Arts to bring the beauty of art to our patrons.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, 4-5:30 PM, hosted by the library, 750 W. Broadway, in West Plains. The public is invited to attend, meet the artist, view, and discuss the pieces on display. Partial funding for this exhibit is provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Greg Carter greg.carter@westplains.gov at the library or WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale at jhale2129@gmail.com.
West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) has issued a call for submissions for their juried exhibits “Deck the Halls” as well as the exhibit to be displayed during the 2024 eclipse celebration in West Plains. WPCA will host “Deck the Halls” from November 18 through December 16, 2023; and the eclipse exhibit March 30 through May 4, 2024, in the Gallery at the Center, West Plains Civic Center. Both exhibits are open to 2D and 3D artists.
“Deck the Halls” is the opportunity for you to showcase what your holiday celebration means to you. Fall and winter holidays are wonderful times for decorating and creating memories. This is a call for artists to share their memories through their work. Deadline for entries is October 15, 2023.
The eclipse exhibit will feature “all things above” – artwork created during or representing an eclipse, night skies, or other skyward representations to help celebrate during the Party in the Path West Plains Eclipse Celebration April 5-8, 2024. Deadline for entries is March 1, 2024.
Area artists and makers are encouraged to email photos of up to five (5) proposed works to info@westplainsart.org by the deadlines to be considered.
Guidelines:
- 2-D and 3-D pieces accepted
- 16”x20” maximum size of 2-D works, unless waiver granted
- All media accepted – paintings, photographs, drawings, printmaking, pottery, gourd art, etc.
- Subject matter to fit the theme.
- 2-D Pieces must be framed and/or ready to hang
The exhibits are co-sponsored by the West Plains Civic Center and West Plains Council on the Arts, with partial funding provided by Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) will host an exhibition titled “King of the Ozarks” by Mountain Grove photographer Joyce McMurtrey in the Gallery at the Center, West Plains Civic Center from September 1 through October 20, 2023. The Gallery, on the mezzanine, is open to the public during regular Civic Center hours.
Like her photographs, Joyce McMurtrey has deep roots in the Missouri Ozarks. A native of Columbia, MO, Joyce has spent the past four decades in Wright County. Together with her husband, Joyce farmed 75 acres of grapes near Mountain Grove. After the birth of her daughter in 1986, Joyce bought a camera. What began as an attempt to capture her family’s life on the farm grew into a passion that can be seen in her powerful portraits of the people and places she calls home.
“King of the Ozarks” began from Joyce’s curiosity to discover more details about an almost mythical person, H. King Davis, and a wish to meet her neighbors. Over four years, the project evolved into a collection of portraits and profiles from interviews Joyce conducted with this multi-generational African American family who’ve farmed in southern Missouri since the Homestead Act.
“Joyce McMurtrey’s work is not about history. She is a keen observer of people and the places where they lived as neighbors and family. In order to share family stories, you must first be a part of one. Joyce’s work, ‘King of the Ozarks: Family Stories’ takes you along the roads where legacies are created and asks us to join in the journey,” says Kathleen Morrissey, President of WPCA.
WPCA will host the Opening Reception for the Ozarks Studies Symposium on Thursday, September 21, 2023, from 5:30-7:00 p.m., in the Gallery at the Center. The “King of the Ozarks” exhibit will be featured. All are invited to attend, meet the artist, and discuss her work. The exhibit is co-sponsored by the West Plains Civic Center and West Plains Council on the Arts, with partial funding provided by Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
Photo courtesy of Joyce McMurtrey


Local artist Ann Kulpa’s artwork will be featured on OzSBI’s first floor from the beginning of October through the end of December 2023. The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) have partnered to bring quarterly art displays to the incubator. Visitors may view the display at the incubator during OzSBI’s business hours, anytime between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale describes the works, “Ann Kulpa gives the viewer multiple layers in her collages. It’s worth your time to pause and explore the various media, textural components, and use of color to create nonrepresentational art.”
Kulpa is a self-taught creative who has been working on her art since she was a child. She has lived in Cabool for 20 years with her husband. Ann lived in Colorado for many years before moving to the Ozarks. In Colorado, Ann competed in juried art shows earning numerous awards and accepting commission work as a portrait artist and mural painter. While living in Cabool she discovered the creative process of Digital Art Painting. She became very involved in digital work for years while continuing her work in Photography, Pencil, and Pen & Ink drawings on the side. Using these mediums, she has won awards in juried art shows in this area.
Because of her interest in the process of creating intuitively, in 2022 Ann returned to the form of abstract art that she loved to create as a child. In the last two years she has enrolled in several educational courses which she is using as a springboard in creating her multi-media, multi-layered, intuitive artwork. As she develops this art form, she hopes to introduce portraiture into her work. “I am enjoying this challenging process which is much like working a creative puzzle. The intuitive nature of creating in this way means I am always surprised throughout the process,” says Kulpa.
A Meet-the-Artist event will be held on Thursday, October 19, 2-4 p.m. in OzSBI’s lobby at 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The public is invited to attend to meet Kulpa and view and discuss the pieces on display.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Madison Sutterfield madisonsutterfield@ozsbi.com at OzSBI or WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale at jhale2129@gmail.com.

The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Artwork from local artist Garrett Melby will be featured October 2 through the end of December 2023, featuring some pieces from his “Tone Poets” collection. Visitors may view the display at the library during open hours, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.
WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale says, “With bold color and strong contrast Garrett creates for the viewer exciting interpretation of his subjects.”
Melby graduated from Willow Springs, Mo in 1998 and had success in school in art related events. His art was displayed in Willow Springs downtown and in the school art show. He graduated from Collins College in Phoenix, AZ with a degree in animation. While in Arizona, his art and animation were displayed in downtown Phoenix art galleries, first Friday’s art walk, as well as in Tempe and Mesa Arizona.
Currently Melby’s artwork is on display at Wages Brewing Company in West Plains, MO and Springfield Brewing Company’s Cellar music venue. Melby paints live with many area and national bands and musicians, including the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, The Steeldrivers, Haha Tonka, the HillBenders and many more. Melby currently is the Coordinator for Honest Imaginations an art-based program for special needs individuals in West Plains, Missouri.
Melby has had art shows and benefit auctions at Wages Brewery West Plains, The Yellow House Community art program West Plains, The Queen city Shout Springfield, Q enoteca wine bar Springfield Mo, OZBI, and Springfield Brewing Company’s Cellar. At these art auctions He has helped raise money for many local charities close to his heart such as ORC\West Plains Regional Animal Shelter, The Bridges Program of West Plains Schools, Rescue and Defend, the West Plains Optimist Club, Queen City Shout Poverty Relief, CASA, Christos House and Play it Forward to name a few.
“My mission statement is simply: You can’t move forward if you don’t give back. I paint live with bands and do a lot of cool things on a canvas, but the real art is finding a way to help someone with your art and that’s what I’m striving to do.”
WPPL Director Greg Carter shares, ‘Here at the library, our vision is that we are a space where all come to learn, create, discover, and connect. There is no better way to accomplish that vision than displaying local pieces of art for the community to peruse and appreciate. We are always proud to partner with the Council on the Arts to bring the beauty of art to our patrons.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, 4-5:30 PM, hosted by the library, 750 W. Broadway, in West Plains. The public is invited to attend, meet the artist, view, and discuss the pieces on display. Partial funding for this exhibit is provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Greg Carter greg.carter@westplains.gov at the library or WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale at jhale2129@gmail.com.
A six-week walking program that will teach you how to safely make physical activity part of your everyday life. Free class starting October 11, continuing Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays through November 17. Register by phone or call with questions: 417-256-2391. Or visit MU Extension, 1376 Bill Virdon Blvd., West Plains.

West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) has issued a call for submissions for their juried exhibits “Deck the Halls” as well as the exhibit to be displayed during the 2024 eclipse celebration in West Plains. WPCA will host “Deck the Halls” from November 18 through December 16, 2023; and the eclipse exhibit March 30 through May 4, 2024, in the Gallery at the Center, West Plains Civic Center. Both exhibits are open to 2D and 3D artists.
“Deck the Halls” is the opportunity for you to showcase what your holiday celebration means to you. Fall and winter holidays are wonderful times for decorating and creating memories. This is a call for artists to share their memories through their work. Deadline for entries is October 15, 2023.
The eclipse exhibit will feature “all things above” – artwork created during or representing an eclipse, night skies, or other skyward representations to help celebrate during the Party in the Path West Plains Eclipse Celebration April 5-8, 2024. Deadline for entries is March 1, 2024.
Area artists and makers are encouraged to email photos of up to five (5) proposed works to info@westplainsart.org by the deadlines to be considered.
Guidelines:
- 2-D and 3-D pieces accepted
- 16”x20” maximum size of 2-D works, unless waiver granted
- All media accepted – paintings, photographs, drawings, printmaking, pottery, gourd art, etc.
- Subject matter to fit the theme.
- 2-D Pieces must be framed and/or ready to hang
The exhibits are co-sponsored by the West Plains Civic Center and West Plains Council on the Arts, with partial funding provided by Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) will host an exhibition titled “King of the Ozarks” by Mountain Grove photographer Joyce McMurtrey in the Gallery at the Center, West Plains Civic Center from September 1 through October 20, 2023. The Gallery, on the mezzanine, is open to the public during regular Civic Center hours.
Like her photographs, Joyce McMurtrey has deep roots in the Missouri Ozarks. A native of Columbia, MO, Joyce has spent the past four decades in Wright County. Together with her husband, Joyce farmed 75 acres of grapes near Mountain Grove. After the birth of her daughter in 1986, Joyce bought a camera. What began as an attempt to capture her family’s life on the farm grew into a passion that can be seen in her powerful portraits of the people and places she calls home.
“King of the Ozarks” began from Joyce’s curiosity to discover more details about an almost mythical person, H. King Davis, and a wish to meet her neighbors. Over four years, the project evolved into a collection of portraits and profiles from interviews Joyce conducted with this multi-generational African American family who’ve farmed in southern Missouri since the Homestead Act.
“Joyce McMurtrey’s work is not about history. She is a keen observer of people and the places where they lived as neighbors and family. In order to share family stories, you must first be a part of one. Joyce’s work, ‘King of the Ozarks: Family Stories’ takes you along the roads where legacies are created and asks us to join in the journey,” says Kathleen Morrissey, President of WPCA.
WPCA will host the Opening Reception for the Ozarks Studies Symposium on Thursday, September 21, 2023, from 5:30-7:00 p.m., in the Gallery at the Center. The “King of the Ozarks” exhibit will be featured. All are invited to attend, meet the artist, and discuss her work. The exhibit is co-sponsored by the West Plains Civic Center and West Plains Council on the Arts, with partial funding provided by Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
Photo courtesy of Joyce McMurtrey


Local artist Ann Kulpa’s artwork will be featured on OzSBI’s first floor from the beginning of October through the end of December 2023. The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) have partnered to bring quarterly art displays to the incubator. Visitors may view the display at the incubator during OzSBI’s business hours, anytime between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale describes the works, “Ann Kulpa gives the viewer multiple layers in her collages. It’s worth your time to pause and explore the various media, textural components, and use of color to create nonrepresentational art.”
Kulpa is a self-taught creative who has been working on her art since she was a child. She has lived in Cabool for 20 years with her husband. Ann lived in Colorado for many years before moving to the Ozarks. In Colorado, Ann competed in juried art shows earning numerous awards and accepting commission work as a portrait artist and mural painter. While living in Cabool she discovered the creative process of Digital Art Painting. She became very involved in digital work for years while continuing her work in Photography, Pencil, and Pen & Ink drawings on the side. Using these mediums, she has won awards in juried art shows in this area.
Because of her interest in the process of creating intuitively, in 2022 Ann returned to the form of abstract art that she loved to create as a child. In the last two years she has enrolled in several educational courses which she is using as a springboard in creating her multi-media, multi-layered, intuitive artwork. As she develops this art form, she hopes to introduce portraiture into her work. “I am enjoying this challenging process which is much like working a creative puzzle. The intuitive nature of creating in this way means I am always surprised throughout the process,” says Kulpa.
A Meet-the-Artist event will be held on Thursday, October 19, 2-4 p.m. in OzSBI’s lobby at 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The public is invited to attend to meet Kulpa and view and discuss the pieces on display.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Madison Sutterfield madisonsutterfield@ozsbi.com at OzSBI or WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale at jhale2129@gmail.com.

The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Artwork from local artist Garrett Melby will be featured October 2 through the end of December 2023, featuring some pieces from his “Tone Poets” collection. Visitors may view the display at the library during open hours, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.
WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale says, “With bold color and strong contrast Garrett creates for the viewer exciting interpretation of his subjects.”
Melby graduated from Willow Springs, Mo in 1998 and had success in school in art related events. His art was displayed in Willow Springs downtown and in the school art show. He graduated from Collins College in Phoenix, AZ with a degree in animation. While in Arizona, his art and animation were displayed in downtown Phoenix art galleries, first Friday’s art walk, as well as in Tempe and Mesa Arizona.
Currently Melby’s artwork is on display at Wages Brewing Company in West Plains, MO and Springfield Brewing Company’s Cellar music venue. Melby paints live with many area and national bands and musicians, including the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, The Steeldrivers, Haha Tonka, the HillBenders and many more. Melby currently is the Coordinator for Honest Imaginations an art-based program for special needs individuals in West Plains, Missouri.
Melby has had art shows and benefit auctions at Wages Brewery West Plains, The Yellow House Community art program West Plains, The Queen city Shout Springfield, Q enoteca wine bar Springfield Mo, OZBI, and Springfield Brewing Company’s Cellar. At these art auctions He has helped raise money for many local charities close to his heart such as ORC\West Plains Regional Animal Shelter, The Bridges Program of West Plains Schools, Rescue and Defend, the West Plains Optimist Club, Queen City Shout Poverty Relief, CASA, Christos House and Play it Forward to name a few.
“My mission statement is simply: You can’t move forward if you don’t give back. I paint live with bands and do a lot of cool things on a canvas, but the real art is finding a way to help someone with your art and that’s what I’m striving to do.”
WPPL Director Greg Carter shares, ‘Here at the library, our vision is that we are a space where all come to learn, create, discover, and connect. There is no better way to accomplish that vision than displaying local pieces of art for the community to peruse and appreciate. We are always proud to partner with the Council on the Arts to bring the beauty of art to our patrons.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, 4-5:30 PM, hosted by the library, 750 W. Broadway, in West Plains. The public is invited to attend, meet the artist, view, and discuss the pieces on display. Partial funding for this exhibit is provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Greg Carter greg.carter@westplains.gov at the library or WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale at jhale2129@gmail.com.
In this workshop, you will learn about why Instagram Reels are so important and how you can use them to elevate your business. Ozsbi.com for details and to register.
Thursdays and Fridays, 2-6 p.m., and Saturdays and Sunday, 12-4, through October 29. Free admission, but donations are encouraged to support the Club.

Registration required. Visit treatyourpalette.com for more information.
Rock/Pop, performing hits of the 60s, 70s, 80s and orginals.
West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) has issued a call for submissions for their juried exhibits “Deck the Halls” as well as the exhibit to be displayed during the 2024 eclipse celebration in West Plains. WPCA will host “Deck the Halls” from November 18 through December 16, 2023; and the eclipse exhibit March 30 through May 4, 2024, in the Gallery at the Center, West Plains Civic Center. Both exhibits are open to 2D and 3D artists.
“Deck the Halls” is the opportunity for you to showcase what your holiday celebration means to you. Fall and winter holidays are wonderful times for decorating and creating memories. This is a call for artists to share their memories through their work. Deadline for entries is October 15, 2023.
The eclipse exhibit will feature “all things above” – artwork created during or representing an eclipse, night skies, or other skyward representations to help celebrate during the Party in the Path West Plains Eclipse Celebration April 5-8, 2024. Deadline for entries is March 1, 2024.
Area artists and makers are encouraged to email photos of up to five (5) proposed works to info@westplainsart.org by the deadlines to be considered.
Guidelines:
- 2-D and 3-D pieces accepted
- 16”x20” maximum size of 2-D works, unless waiver granted
- All media accepted – paintings, photographs, drawings, printmaking, pottery, gourd art, etc.
- Subject matter to fit the theme.
- 2-D Pieces must be framed and/or ready to hang
The exhibits are co-sponsored by the West Plains Civic Center and West Plains Council on the Arts, with partial funding provided by Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) will host an exhibition titled “King of the Ozarks” by Mountain Grove photographer Joyce McMurtrey in the Gallery at the Center, West Plains Civic Center from September 1 through October 20, 2023. The Gallery, on the mezzanine, is open to the public during regular Civic Center hours.
Like her photographs, Joyce McMurtrey has deep roots in the Missouri Ozarks. A native of Columbia, MO, Joyce has spent the past four decades in Wright County. Together with her husband, Joyce farmed 75 acres of grapes near Mountain Grove. After the birth of her daughter in 1986, Joyce bought a camera. What began as an attempt to capture her family’s life on the farm grew into a passion that can be seen in her powerful portraits of the people and places she calls home.
“King of the Ozarks” began from Joyce’s curiosity to discover more details about an almost mythical person, H. King Davis, and a wish to meet her neighbors. Over four years, the project evolved into a collection of portraits and profiles from interviews Joyce conducted with this multi-generational African American family who’ve farmed in southern Missouri since the Homestead Act.
“Joyce McMurtrey’s work is not about history. She is a keen observer of people and the places where they lived as neighbors and family. In order to share family stories, you must first be a part of one. Joyce’s work, ‘King of the Ozarks: Family Stories’ takes you along the roads where legacies are created and asks us to join in the journey,” says Kathleen Morrissey, President of WPCA.
WPCA will host the Opening Reception for the Ozarks Studies Symposium on Thursday, September 21, 2023, from 5:30-7:00 p.m., in the Gallery at the Center. The “King of the Ozarks” exhibit will be featured. All are invited to attend, meet the artist, and discuss her work. The exhibit is co-sponsored by the West Plains Civic Center and West Plains Council on the Arts, with partial funding provided by Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
Photo courtesy of Joyce McMurtrey


Local artist Ann Kulpa’s artwork will be featured on OzSBI’s first floor from the beginning of October through the end of December 2023. The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) have partnered to bring quarterly art displays to the incubator. Visitors may view the display at the incubator during OzSBI’s business hours, anytime between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale describes the works, “Ann Kulpa gives the viewer multiple layers in her collages. It’s worth your time to pause and explore the various media, textural components, and use of color to create nonrepresentational art.”
Kulpa is a self-taught creative who has been working on her art since she was a child. She has lived in Cabool for 20 years with her husband. Ann lived in Colorado for many years before moving to the Ozarks. In Colorado, Ann competed in juried art shows earning numerous awards and accepting commission work as a portrait artist and mural painter. While living in Cabool she discovered the creative process of Digital Art Painting. She became very involved in digital work for years while continuing her work in Photography, Pencil, and Pen & Ink drawings on the side. Using these mediums, she has won awards in juried art shows in this area.
Because of her interest in the process of creating intuitively, in 2022 Ann returned to the form of abstract art that she loved to create as a child. In the last two years she has enrolled in several educational courses which she is using as a springboard in creating her multi-media, multi-layered, intuitive artwork. As she develops this art form, she hopes to introduce portraiture into her work. “I am enjoying this challenging process which is much like working a creative puzzle. The intuitive nature of creating in this way means I am always surprised throughout the process,” says Kulpa.
A Meet-the-Artist event will be held on Thursday, October 19, 2-4 p.m. in OzSBI’s lobby at 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The public is invited to attend to meet Kulpa and view and discuss the pieces on display.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Madison Sutterfield madisonsutterfield@ozsbi.com at OzSBI or WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale at jhale2129@gmail.com.
Free admission & Parking. Gates open at 9 am, concession stands open at 10 am. Show Grounds: 310 Cannaday Cabool, MO. Phone: (417) 259-0648.
Tractor Pull Friday @ 5 pm – Weigh in at 2 pm
Tractor Pull Saturday @ 3 pm – Weigh in at noon.
See more information at Ozarks Older Iron Club on Facebook.

The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Artwork from local artist Garrett Melby will be featured October 2 through the end of December 2023, featuring some pieces from his “Tone Poets” collection. Visitors may view the display at the library during open hours, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.
WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale says, “With bold color and strong contrast Garrett creates for the viewer exciting interpretation of his subjects.”
Melby graduated from Willow Springs, Mo in 1998 and had success in school in art related events. His art was displayed in Willow Springs downtown and in the school art show. He graduated from Collins College in Phoenix, AZ with a degree in animation. While in Arizona, his art and animation were displayed in downtown Phoenix art galleries, first Friday’s art walk, as well as in Tempe and Mesa Arizona.
Currently Melby’s artwork is on display at Wages Brewing Company in West Plains, MO and Springfield Brewing Company’s Cellar music venue. Melby paints live with many area and national bands and musicians, including the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, The Steeldrivers, Haha Tonka, the HillBenders and many more. Melby currently is the Coordinator for Honest Imaginations an art-based program for special needs individuals in West Plains, Missouri.
Melby has had art shows and benefit auctions at Wages Brewery West Plains, The Yellow House Community art program West Plains, The Queen city Shout Springfield, Q enoteca wine bar Springfield Mo, OZBI, and Springfield Brewing Company’s Cellar. At these art auctions He has helped raise money for many local charities close to his heart such as ORC\West Plains Regional Animal Shelter, The Bridges Program of West Plains Schools, Rescue and Defend, the West Plains Optimist Club, Queen City Shout Poverty Relief, CASA, Christos House and Play it Forward to name a few.
“My mission statement is simply: You can’t move forward if you don’t give back. I paint live with bands and do a lot of cool things on a canvas, but the real art is finding a way to help someone with your art and that’s what I’m striving to do.”
WPPL Director Greg Carter shares, ‘Here at the library, our vision is that we are a space where all come to learn, create, discover, and connect. There is no better way to accomplish that vision than displaying local pieces of art for the community to peruse and appreciate. We are always proud to partner with the Council on the Arts to bring the beauty of art to our patrons.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, 4-5:30 PM, hosted by the library, 750 W. Broadway, in West Plains. The public is invited to attend, meet the artist, view, and discuss the pieces on display. Partial funding for this exhibit is provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Greg Carter greg.carter@westplains.gov at the library or WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale at jhale2129@gmail.com.
A six-week walking program that will teach you how to safely make physical activity part of your everyday life. Free class starting October 11, continuing Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays through November 17. Register by phone or call with questions: 417-256-2391. Or visit MU Extension, 1376 Bill Virdon Blvd., West Plains.

Thursdays and Fridays, 2-6 p.m., and Saturdays and Sunday, 12-4, through October 29. Free admission, but donations are encouraged to support the Club.

See Fear the Bloody Timber on Facebook for complete information, including ticket prices.
Country Express typically plays at the senior center every Friday night. Please call ahead, (417) 256-4055, for details and to make sure they will be there.
From the organizers: Who has plans for the ominous Friday the 13th? So close to Halloween we couldn’t miss the chance to put together a special event for all those who wanna hear some awesome music at an underground show! West Plains Underground presents: FEAR THE 13th! Come check out Overdue, MissyFü, and Broken Knuckle at Below Grade located at 313 Washington Ave in West Plains Located underneath the West Plains Bike Shop! We look forward to seeing everyone there!! Go to back door. $10. All ages. Costumes preferred. Sponsored by West Plains-Underground.
Further information and tickets here https://theavenuetheatre.org/buy-tickets/
West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) has issued a call for submissions for their juried exhibits “Deck the Halls” as well as the exhibit to be displayed during the 2024 eclipse celebration in West Plains. WPCA will host “Deck the Halls” from November 18 through December 16, 2023; and the eclipse exhibit March 30 through May 4, 2024, in the Gallery at the Center, West Plains Civic Center. Both exhibits are open to 2D and 3D artists.
“Deck the Halls” is the opportunity for you to showcase what your holiday celebration means to you. Fall and winter holidays are wonderful times for decorating and creating memories. This is a call for artists to share their memories through their work. Deadline for entries is October 15, 2023.
The eclipse exhibit will feature “all things above” – artwork created during or representing an eclipse, night skies, or other skyward representations to help celebrate during the Party in the Path West Plains Eclipse Celebration April 5-8, 2024. Deadline for entries is March 1, 2024.
Area artists and makers are encouraged to email photos of up to five (5) proposed works to info@westplainsart.org by the deadlines to be considered.
Guidelines:
- 2-D and 3-D pieces accepted
- 16”x20” maximum size of 2-D works, unless waiver granted
- All media accepted – paintings, photographs, drawings, printmaking, pottery, gourd art, etc.
- Subject matter to fit the theme.
- 2-D Pieces must be framed and/or ready to hang
The exhibits are co-sponsored by the West Plains Civic Center and West Plains Council on the Arts, with partial funding provided by Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) will host an exhibition titled “King of the Ozarks” by Mountain Grove photographer Joyce McMurtrey in the Gallery at the Center, West Plains Civic Center from September 1 through October 20, 2023. The Gallery, on the mezzanine, is open to the public during regular Civic Center hours.
Like her photographs, Joyce McMurtrey has deep roots in the Missouri Ozarks. A native of Columbia, MO, Joyce has spent the past four decades in Wright County. Together with her husband, Joyce farmed 75 acres of grapes near Mountain Grove. After the birth of her daughter in 1986, Joyce bought a camera. What began as an attempt to capture her family’s life on the farm grew into a passion that can be seen in her powerful portraits of the people and places she calls home.
“King of the Ozarks” began from Joyce’s curiosity to discover more details about an almost mythical person, H. King Davis, and a wish to meet her neighbors. Over four years, the project evolved into a collection of portraits and profiles from interviews Joyce conducted with this multi-generational African American family who’ve farmed in southern Missouri since the Homestead Act.
“Joyce McMurtrey’s work is not about history. She is a keen observer of people and the places where they lived as neighbors and family. In order to share family stories, you must first be a part of one. Joyce’s work, ‘King of the Ozarks: Family Stories’ takes you along the roads where legacies are created and asks us to join in the journey,” says Kathleen Morrissey, President of WPCA.
WPCA will host the Opening Reception for the Ozarks Studies Symposium on Thursday, September 21, 2023, from 5:30-7:00 p.m., in the Gallery at the Center. The “King of the Ozarks” exhibit will be featured. All are invited to attend, meet the artist, and discuss her work. The exhibit is co-sponsored by the West Plains Civic Center and West Plains Council on the Arts, with partial funding provided by Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
Photo courtesy of Joyce McMurtrey

Free admission & Parking. Gates open at 9 am, concession stands open at 10 am. Show Grounds: 310 Cannaday Cabool, MO. Phone: (417) 259-0648.
Tractor Pull Friday @ 5 pm – Weigh in at 2 pm
Tractor Pull Saturday @ 3 pm – Weigh in at noon.
See more information at Ozarks Older Iron Club on Facebook.

The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Artwork from local artist Garrett Melby will be featured October 2 through the end of December 2023, featuring some pieces from his “Tone Poets” collection. Visitors may view the display at the library during open hours, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.
WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale says, “With bold color and strong contrast Garrett creates for the viewer exciting interpretation of his subjects.”
Melby graduated from Willow Springs, Mo in 1998 and had success in school in art related events. His art was displayed in Willow Springs downtown and in the school art show. He graduated from Collins College in Phoenix, AZ with a degree in animation. While in Arizona, his art and animation were displayed in downtown Phoenix art galleries, first Friday’s art walk, as well as in Tempe and Mesa Arizona.
Currently Melby’s artwork is on display at Wages Brewing Company in West Plains, MO and Springfield Brewing Company’s Cellar music venue. Melby paints live with many area and national bands and musicians, including the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, The Steeldrivers, Haha Tonka, the HillBenders and many more. Melby currently is the Coordinator for Honest Imaginations an art-based program for special needs individuals in West Plains, Missouri.
Melby has had art shows and benefit auctions at Wages Brewery West Plains, The Yellow House Community art program West Plains, The Queen city Shout Springfield, Q enoteca wine bar Springfield Mo, OZBI, and Springfield Brewing Company’s Cellar. At these art auctions He has helped raise money for many local charities close to his heart such as ORC\West Plains Regional Animal Shelter, The Bridges Program of West Plains Schools, Rescue and Defend, the West Plains Optimist Club, Queen City Shout Poverty Relief, CASA, Christos House and Play it Forward to name a few.
“My mission statement is simply: You can’t move forward if you don’t give back. I paint live with bands and do a lot of cool things on a canvas, but the real art is finding a way to help someone with your art and that’s what I’m striving to do.”
WPPL Director Greg Carter shares, ‘Here at the library, our vision is that we are a space where all come to learn, create, discover, and connect. There is no better way to accomplish that vision than displaying local pieces of art for the community to peruse and appreciate. We are always proud to partner with the Council on the Arts to bring the beauty of art to our patrons.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, 4-5:30 PM, hosted by the library, 750 W. Broadway, in West Plains. The public is invited to attend, meet the artist, view, and discuss the pieces on display. Partial funding for this exhibit is provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Greg Carter greg.carter@westplains.gov at the library or WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale at jhale2129@gmail.com.
From organizers: Bring your pet(s) and delight in the blessing of God’s Creation. Photo certificates will be available. Call 417-256-6685 for information. All pets must be on a leash or in a cage.
See McWilliams Pumpkin Patch on Facebook for more information.
West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) will again sponsor the pumpkin competition during the Downtown Fall Block Party, 11-4PM on Saturday, October 14, 2023. Entries of pre-carved, painted or decorated pumpkins will be accepted between 11 AM and 12:30 PM at the WPCA booth located on the Square in downtown West Plains, MO.
Entries will be on display throughout the event, with winners to be announced by 3:30 PM. The People’s Choice winner will be announced just before closing at 4 PM.
Competition categories include:
Youth – scariest, most creative, funniest, best overall Youth
Adult – most original, most artistic, most beautiful, best overall Adult
All entries will be eligible for the People’s Choice award.
“There were sixteen entries in last year’s event. We’re excited to see what this creative community has to offer this year!” say organizers.
From organizers: Hey guys! Can you believe it has been almost 8 years since we said goodbye to the factory and each other? We feel it has been way too long and would love to get together again. So, we are planning our 1st Annual reunion. Let’s plan to do a potluck style lunch and sit around and visit and catch up with each other! Can’t wait to see everyone. Feel free to invite any former Eaton/Invensys/Robertshaw employee you want since not everyone is on Facebook! Can’t wait to see everyone again!
See Invensys Reunion on Facebook.
Thursdays and Fridays, 2-6 p.m., and Saturdays and Sunday, 12-4, through October 29. Free admission, but donations are encouraged to support the Club.

Cars and Cones will follow car shows at the Downtown Fall Block Party and the Yellow House which are from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on October 14. Ozark Artery is having a car-themed art show at The Yellow House also during that time. See Ozark Artery on Facebook for more information.
oasis2westplains.com for info. Doors at 6 p.m. Show at 9 p.m.
